Protective garment



Nov. 4, 1952 J. BOTT'OLFSEN' PROTECTIVE GARMENT Filed Nov. 10, 1949 2' SHEETS-Sl-IEET 1 NOV. 4, 1952 J, BQTTQLFSEN 2,616,085

' PRQTBCTIVE GARMENT Filed NOV. 10, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patentecl Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROTECTIVE GARMENT Judith Bottolfsen, Narberth, Pa.

i Appiication November 10, 1949, Serial No. 126,566

4 Claims.

This invention relates to aprons and more particularly to aprons for the use of persons who are bed-ridden or convalescent, and the like.

When a. person, particularly achild, is con-- fined to bed due to illness; injuries, or one of many other reasons, there are quite a variety of things they would like to do but are unable to because of the'fear of soiling the bedclothes, adjacent floor rugs, patients clothing, etc. For example, when children are recovering from an illness but still confined to bed, painting, pasting and modeling with clay are things that will keep them amused for hours, but also are pastimes that many people refuse a child in bed because of the probability of the bedclothes and numerous other articles being soiled by spilling or dropping of such materials. Also,'eating meals in bed presents similar problems because invariably crumbs get on and between the bedclothes and liquids frequently are spilled.

With the foregoing in mind the principal object of the invention is to provide a novel device that can be Worn by a person confined to bed and which will effectively protect the bedclothes and other adjacent and surrounding articles from being soiled. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel device to be worn by a bedridden person which is proof against the leakage of liquids and is constructed to'retain liquids and other materials spilled or otherwise deposited thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel device of the stated character and construction which is not cumbersome and will not hamper ordinary movements of the patient.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel bed apron having the features set forth which may be used in the care of infants for bathing, changing diapers and the like.

-A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel bed apron which may be manufactured easily and cheaply and which may be used repeatedly.

These and. other objects. of the invention .and the various features and details of the construction and use thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing the bed apron as used on a patient confined to bed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing .the bedapron as it may be used on a convalescent patient sitting at a table;

Fig. 3 is a perspective .view of the bed apron viewed from-the backof the garment portion thereof Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bed apron viewed from the front thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the bed apron showing the means for supporting and stiffening the sides of the apron.

A bed apron 10 made according to the present invention, comprises generally a garment section II adapted to be worn by a person and a tray or cover section I2 which is attached to the garment section and designed to overlie and protect the surface of the bed in which such person may be confined. The garment and cover sections of the apron preferably are fabricated of waterproof sheet material such as, for example, one of the many plastic sheet materials now available on the market. The tray or cover section l2 of the apron is provided with upturned edges about its periphery which function to retain in or on the cover section liquids and other materials that may be spilled.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the garment section H of the apron may be se-. cured to the cover section I2 thereof in a suitable manner, for example. for stitching as indicated at [3. Alternatively the garment and cover sections of the apron may be cut from a single continuous piece of sheet material. The garment section comprises a body portion I4 which is adapted to overlie the front and sides of the wearers body and terminates in its upper part thereof in a pair of oppositely directed arm portions 15. The inner ends of the arm portions l5 at the rearward side of the garment section ll terminate in relatively free flap portions it which extend toward each other and are adapted or arranged to overlie the upper back and shoulder portions of the wearer.

As shown, the flap portions [6 are provided with tie strings I! by means of which the upper part of the garment, including the arm portions thereof, may be secured in position with respect to the neck and shoulders of the wearer. In addition, the opposite side edges [8 and the garment body portion M are provided with loops or the like [9 for receiving tie-strings (not shown) which may be tied together across the wearers .back. It will be apparent that through adjustment of the tie strings l1 and the tie-strings which pass through the loops l9, the garment section I l of the apron may be made to fit persons within a very wide range of sizes.

The tray or cover section I2 of the apron comprises a flat central portion 20 having continuous upturned edge portions 2| about the periphery thereof, Preferably the central portion 20 of the tray or cover section I2 is of generally rectangu- 3 lar configuration dimensioned to conform to the length and width of a bed.

Secured at spaced intervals along the upturned edge portions 2| of the tray or cover section [2 are a series of vertically extending tabs or members 22 which are adapted to assist in maintaining the cover section edge walls 2| in the general upstanding relation with respect to the central portion 20 thereof. Each of these members 22 comprises a length -of tubular'material which may be,--for example, the same as that of which the apron is fabricated. The ends of the members 22 are folded over and secured in place by means of stitching or the like so as to form upper and lower projecting loops 23 and 2d, respectively. Internally of each member;22 thereiis inserted a reinforcing rib orv element25, for example, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. Tapes 26 are threaded through the upper loops23 of the members 22 and the ends of these tapes are tied-or-otherwise secured' to-the bed or other suitable structure 1; the manner and relation shown in-Figl f the drawing' so that the ta as are tautancl provide as uspension for the vertical edge walls of the cover section l2 which, in collaboration with the reinforcing or stiffening members 25, prevents collapse of the walls and holdsthemsubstantially vertical to retain liquids and the like spilledon the tray or cover section l2.

. Fig; 2 shows another-use of the apron IO. 3 In this case thegarment'section H of the apron it is-worn by the patient as before and the trayor cover. section 12 isemployed toprotect the top of a-card table while theremainder of th 'tray section iZ- rests in protecting relation on the patients lap. In this instance the tray section E2 in fastened, to, the, cardtable by tapesgoing through the lcwerloop 23 of the member22, and the stiffening members 25 serve to-support and preventcollapse of the upturned edges 2| of the tray portion [2.

From the foregoing it can beseen. that this invention providestaynovel bed apron which, can be worn by a person. confined to. bed or convalescing which will not hamper ordinary movements of the personand-which'provides adequate protection for thebedclothes from spilled liquids and othermaterials.

*VJhilegcertain embodiments of this invention have been illustratedand described herein, it is not intended to limitthe inventiorrwto such' disclosures and changes and, modifications ,may be incorporated and embodied. therein within the scope of the following claims.

:I claim:

1. A unitary protective apron for bed, and convalescent epersons composed of flexible waterproof sheet materialand. comprising a garment section and a cover section extending outwardly from the lower end of the garment section,.said garment section having portions to overlie. the frontand side-body portions of the wearer-land tubular arm portions-to "receive the armsof the wearer, said covecsection-including a-flatcentrol portion-extending laterally outward and'for- Ward of i the garment portionand configurated to'overlie a generallyflat surface of an article of furniture and an upturned wall portion extending continuously about the periphery of said central portion of the cover section and terminatingat-opposite sides of the garment section, and 'a plurality of relatively stiff tab members secured invertically extending relation to the cover section wall portion at predetermined spaced intervals thereabout and having projecting loop portions formed at least at their upper ends for the passage of securing means, said tab members being resistant to flexure to assist in maintaining the said wall portion in generally upstanding relation to the central portion of the cover section.

2. A unitary protective apron for bed and convalescent persons composed of flexible waterproof sheet material and comprising a garment section and a cover section extending outwardly from the lower end of the garment section, said tubular arm portions to receive the arms of the wearer saidflcover section including a flat central portion extending laterally outward and forward of the garment portion and configurated to overlie. a generally flat surface of an article of furniture and an upturned wall portion extending corttinuously about the periphery of said central. portion of the cover vsection and. terminating .at oppositesidesfo'f the. garment section, a plu'ralityofftabv members secured" in vertically extending relation tothe cover section wall portion atw predetermined Lspaced intervals thereabout and having projecting Ioopportions formed at least atlthe-ir upper ends for theflpassage 'bf securing means, and reinforcing element 11 sistant to flexu'reI-"dispos'ed in each' tab member and operable' toassist in maintaining the said cover secticn wall V portion in generally upstandins' relation to the centrallportion thereof.

,3. A unitaryprotectiye apron foribed and convalescent personscomposed. of flexible waterproof sheet mate ri-al and comprising a garment section and a. cover section extending: outwardly from the lowergend, oi the garment section, said garment.sectionvhaving portions to overlie the front and side bodyportionsof wearer and tubular arm portions to reecive the. arms of the wearer, said, co -er section including a 'fiatcentral portion extending laterally outwardand forward or thegarment portion and configurated to overlie a generally :iiatsurface of anlarticleof furniture and an upturned wall.portion .extending continuously about th v.peripl' ery of .said central portion of; thecover section and terminating at opposita sidesl cf the garment section and a plurality of tab, members a secured in I ,vertically extending relation to; the qliterl sid Of the cover section wall portion, at predetermined, intervals thereabout and formingi therewith pocketsfor the. reception of stififeninafi ments, sa lta members ea ch.=. having pr i ctme 00p po n formed at least at their-upper ends for thepassage of securing means.

.4. A unitary mtectiye apron. for. bed andiconvalescent. persons. composed of l flexible waterproof sheet material andcqmprisin a garment section and,v a, cover, section BXtendinng outwardly fromv thetlower end of: the; garment: section said garment section having portions tooyerlie the front anduside -body-intuitions of the. wearer and V tubular, arnnportions ,to receive, the arms; of the wearer, said. coyerxsectionincluding a;-flatcen .ral portion extending laterally: outwardand forward of the garmentlportion-vandconfieuratedto overlie.agenerallylfiatsurfaceiof anarticle of furniture and an upturned wall portion. extending continuously about the peripheryof: said central portion ot the cover. sectionv and {terminating at opposite sides of the garment section a plurality oftab -members secured in. vertically. extending relation to -thelouter 'sidefloi the; cover section wall portion at predetermined intervals thereabout and forming therewith pockets for the reception of stiffening elements, said tab members each having projecting loop portions formed at least at their upper ends for the passage of securing means, and reinforcing elements resistant to fiexure disposed in said pockets and operable to assist in maintaining the cover section Wall portion in generally upstanding relation to the central portion of said section.

JUDITH BOTI'OLFSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Painter Nov. 25, 1913 Barnes Oct. 2, 1917 Dorsey Nov. 25, 1924 Carner Nov. 14, 1944 Peters Oct. 29, 1946 Brose et a1. Aug. 10, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Jan; 22, 1886 Australia May 12, 1926 

